Torpedo launching gear



O 11945 E. s. DENNISON I 2,387,124

I TORPEDO LAUNCHING GEAR Filed Nov. 8, 1943 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron BY5 r Z EZa/afzZQS. Dan/2680a Q E. s. DENNISON TORPEDQ LAUNCHING GEARFiled Nbv.. 8, 1943 l2 Sheets-Sheet; 3

Oct. 1 6, 1945. E. s. DENNISON TORFEDO LAUNCHING GEAR Filed Nov. 8, 194312 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 1NVENTOR.- 2 Edwa d 6? Deans0a Oct. 16, 1945. E. s.DENNISON TORPEDO LAUNCHING GEAR Filed NOV. 8, 1943 12 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTZOR. fZZward 51 Dean $3001 Oct. 16, 1945. E. s. DENNISON 2,337,124I TORPEDO LAUNCHING. GEAR I Fil ed Nov. 8, 1943 12 Sheets-Sheet a n alINVENTQR. fZia/arczli Den/2.430% I Oct. 16, 1945.

E. S. DENNISON TORPEDO LAUNCHING GEAR FiledNov. 8, 1945 lz'sheets-sheet1o 7 INVENTOR. EZw/awd 6i Den/2 680a V c/ zfst Patented Oct. 16, 1945UNITED STATES TORPEDO LAUNCHING GEAR Edward S. Dennison, New London,Conn., as-

signor to Electric Boat Company,

Groton,

Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 8, 1943, SerialNo. 509,421

22 Claims.

My invention relates to the launching of torpedoes from surface navalcraft, distinguishing, at the outset, from the usual practice oflaunching them from tubes by means of compressed air or an'explosivecharge.

The device of my invention was conceived in connection with, and isparticularly adapted to, the arming of high-speed motor torpedo boats,which are relatively small, having a low freeboard, and which carrytheirtorpedoes, ready for firing, on the deck; but it is within thepurview of my invention to use my device on larger vessels, which may beprovided with appropriate platforms for the purpose, suitably near thewater line.

The device of my invention comprises a carriage in which the torpedo,ready for firing, is normally held, which is capable of an inherentmovement imparting a simple lateral thrust to the torpedo and which isprovided with means for releasing the torpedo in and by such movement,whereby the torpedo is delivered overside without rolling and with itsaxis at all times parallel to its original position.

In the device which I have devised, constructed and demonstrated, thecarriage is in the form of a mechanical parallelogram, one link of whichconstitutes a base, so to be set upon its platform that the axes of theparallelogram are substantially parallel to the keel of the ship. Theopposite link, which is the torpedo carrier, is thus capable of beammotion, parallel to the base and within limits, and it is that throwwhich imparts to the torpedo the lateral thrust above referred to. Thatmotion is by gravity. When the parallelogram is in its normal, i. e.inward condition, and a torpedo is mounted in it, the center of gravityof the assembly is slightly outboard of vertical, but means is providedto check it there, subject to release at the proper instant. Uponrelease, gravity shifts the assembly to its outward condition and thatmovement also effects actuation of the firing lever of the torpedo anddischarge of the torpedo, these functions being purposefully timed in amanner hereinafter explained.

The carrier above referred to comprises a socalled "hanger and a cradlewhich is readily fixedly attached thereto and detached therefrom andwhich may independently be accurately saddled and cinched upon a torpedoon a loading dock, this sub-assembly being then easily transferable byderrick from dock to launching gear.

'Numerous advantages, over prior practices, will appear to those skilledin the art, and Iv shall refer to the more outstanding of suchadvantages after explaining my invention in detail.

The device which I have devised, constructed and demonstrated isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows, inside elevation, a motor torpedo boat with my gear mounted on the deckthereof and holding atorpedo'ready for firing; Figure 2 is a frontelevational view of the gear, i. e. as in abeam view of the boat; 7 Y

Figure 3 is an endv elevational view, showing the gear in normaltorpedo-carryin condition and position; I Figure 4 is a detail view of aportion of the hanger; r I I Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, buttaken onthe plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 2, show ing the gear in itsso-called outboard posi tion and illustrating it in its outwardcondition in dotted lines; I V y l 1 Figure 6 shows the lower portion ofthe gearin plan; l

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line (-1ofFigure 6 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 8 is a partial end view taken from the left of Figure '7, partsbeing broken away to reveal otherwise hidden portions; 7 Figure 9 is apartial vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9 9 ofFigure 7 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Figure 10is a partial vertical sectional View taken on the plane of the lineIll-40 of Figure '7 and looking in the direction indicated by the)arrows; Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on theplane of the line ll-|l of Figure 2 and looking in the directionindicated by the arrows; I y I Figure 12 is a detail. sectional viewtaken on the plane of the line 12-12 of Figure '11 and looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows; Figure 13 is a detail sectional viewtaken ,on the plane of the line |3-l 3 'of Figure 1.1 and looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating the loading operation; rFigures 15 and 16 are detail views showing how torpedoes of differentsizes are accommodated; Figures 17 and 18 are more-or-less diagram:matic views, in front elevationand pIan'respec tively, showing atorpedo, of one size in full lines and of another size in dotted lines,loadedinto. the gear, and also showing phases of the launching operationin dotted lines;

Figures 19, 20 and 21 are more-or-less diagrammatic views, inend-elevation, showing the launching operation;

Figure 22 isa partial plan view showing the means provided for actuatingthe firing lever, of the torpedo; v

Figure 23 is a cross sectional view taken on th plane of the line 23--23of .Figure22and-looking in the direction indicated by, the arrows;v

Figure 24 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure22;

the planes of the dot-and-dash line 21-21 of Figure 22 and looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 2a is a partial view,.sin1ilar to Figure-27,

showing the action of the parts there illustrated.

'As before stated, Figure 1 illustrates a motor torpedo boat equippedwith the torpedo launching gear of my invention. But one such gear isshown, toward the stern on the port side; another is, 'in practice,similarly located on the starboard sideand it may also be the practiceto carry two, in tandem, on each side. I The deck, indicated at 22,inFigures 2, 3 andS, is provided with a reinforcing "block platform 23upon which a pair of guides 24, running athwartships, are secured, andthe carriage which wilibe described is mounted in these guides forinboard and outboard movement, as will presently appear.

The base of" the carriage comprises the horizontalplate 26 (see Figures6 and '7) with side members 21, 21, thus to produce a shallow U-shapedformation, with cross-members 29, 29 and 30, the whole being weldedtogether to form asturdy supporting structure. the bottom, a runner 28.is provided, and these I runnersare mounted to'slide' in the guides 24,24.

Midway between the guides 24, 24, and parallel thereto, a rack 33 issecured to the platform by means of bolts 34, 34 passing through stopblocks 35, 35, and this rack is' embraced by an inverted channel 38welded in thebase member 26, as best shown'inFigure I. 1

The channel 35,-jnear its rear end, is surmounted by a pinion housing 31(see Figures 6 and 9), and a pinion 38, indicated in dottedlines inFigure 9, is iournaled in that housing, its shaft 33 extendingoutsideand being there formed to receive a ratchet wrench. The pinion 38 mesheswith the rack 33 and, as it is rotated by the manipulation'of'theratchet wrench, the carriage base is moved' either inboard or outboardas desired. In transport, thecarriage occupies the inboard position, asindicated in Figure 3.

Means is provided for positively locking the carriage in either itsinboard or its outboard position, this meansbeing, abclt40, sliding in ahousing 4| on the base andadapted to be inserted in one or'the other oftwoopenings '42 in the. rack 33'. Forsafety, this bolt may be locked inits thrown position by means of a toggle pin 43 passing through openingsin the bolt and housing. This pin is so-called because 'it is providedwith atoggle nose 44- pivoted in its bifurcated end; this nose; whenaligned with the shank, facilitates insertion 'of the pin intheopenings, and, when passed through the openings, hangsito preventaccidental withdrawal. This pin is loosely chained to. a convenientlynearby stud 45.

The base whichhas been'described is one link of a mechanicalparallelogram. The opposing link is the hanger 50,,and theother twolinks are the frameil, of. crescent formation for reasons which willpresently appear, and the tie rods 52, 52.

Thecresent frame is mounted on the shaft 53; which is mounted-in thebearings 54, 54 forwardly .on the side plates 21, 211, and thus theerescentframe swhigs' on the axis of that shaft. At its upper end, thecrescent frame 5| is p oted to the forward portion of the hanger 50 bymeans of the shaft55 (Figures 4 and 5) mounted in the side plates 55, 55of the hanger 50.

There is a tie rod 52 on each side of the carriage, each provided ateach end with a clevis,

the lower one pivoted on a short shaft 51 mounted in bearings 58, 58rearward on the base, and the upper one pivoted rearwardly to thecorresponding sidev plate 56 of the hanger 50 by means of a pin 53.

The crescent frame 5| is made up of two crescent shaped members, ofsheet steel, one on each side, with a sheet steel plate 60 of channelcrosssection between them.

i The hanger 50 is made up of the two side plates 55, 56, alreadyreferred to, the tubular cross member 56, at the upper rear thereof;which member serves as a retrieving bar, as 'will be later ex-' plained,a cross plate 61, and a top plate58, all welded together to make asturdy structure.

' It is now clear that, with the base stationary,

the other links of the articulated parallelogram At each side, at

may be swung about the pivots so that the hanger 50 may have motionparallelto the base link, from a normal inward condition to an outward'd'elivery condition as will more fully appear presently. It will alsoappear presently that this motion is by gravity. Welded to the back ofeach of the two crescent frame side members, there are a pair ofrearwardly and downwardly extending ears 1| having a pin 12 mounted inthem neartheir ends. This cross pin is adapted to be engaged by aretention hook 13 mounted on the corresponding short shaft 51 alreadyreferred ment with the pin 12, and the hook is held in engagement withthe pin by the mechanism now to be described.

Mounted in bearings 1-1, 11, standing upright from the bottom plate 25of the base is a shaft 18 (Figuresfi, '7, 8, 9 and 10). Neal each of theends of this shaft, just inside the bearings, andin alignment with thecorresponding retention hook 13 is a catch hook 19, which is adapted tocatch on to the free end of the tail13a of' the corresponding hook '13,as best shown in Figure 8.

Also'i'ixedly mounted on this shaft 18 is "an upwardly extending lever8| between which and a portion of the base a tension spring 82 isconnected, this spring urging the'lever 8| in a counterclockwisedirection (Figure 9), normally holding the shaft 18 in such positionthatthe catch hooks 19, 19 will engage the tails 13aof the hooks 13 asabove described. This lever 8| is made in the form of a bell crank, sothat the'other arm 83 thereof may cooperate with a lug 84, extendingupwardly from the base, as best shown in Figure 9, this lug and the arm83 being provided with openings 85 and 86, respectively, which are inalignment when the lever 8| is in its normal sition with the catch hooks19,19 engaging the tails 13a 13a of the hooks13, 13. A' toggle pin 81,of the same nature as the toggle pin'43 already described, and chainedto a nearby stud 88, may then be inserted in these aligned openings soas to prevent unintentional rotation of the shaft 18 and release of theretention hooks 13,13.

The lever 8| is of such length and is in such position that it may beengaged by the foot of the operator, and it will now be clear that whenthe toggle pin 81 is removedand the lever 8| is pushed in the directionof'the arrow of Figure 9, as indicated, the catch hooks I9, I9 will beswung clockwise (Figure 8) to release-the tails 13a, 13a of the hooksI3, I3 permitting the same to swing counterclockwise and thus to freethe parallelogram to moveoutwardly in a manner which will presently bemore fully described.

The shaft I8 may also be actuated by mechanism best shown in Figures 6and 10. A hydraulic cylinder 90 is mounted on a portion of the base, inproximity to the shaft I8, and its piston is subject to fluid pressureentering the cylinder by way of a tube 9| leading from a suitablesource. The piston rod 92 extends toward the shaft and is engaged by afollower 93, mounted in bearing 94, this follower being, in turn,engaged by the forked lever 95 to transmit movement thereto. Uponadmission of fluid under pressure to the cylinder 90, the piston isforced outwardly, rotating the shaft I8 clockwise, as indicated inFigure 10.

Thus, the operation of the gear may be ef--- fected by remote control,or, as above described, it may be operated by direct manipulation of thelever BI if the operator is on deck.

I shall now describe the torpedo carrying cradle which is adapted to bereceived by a hanger 50, reference being made particularly to Figures 2,3, and 11.

This cradle, which is adapted to be saddled on to the torpedo and whichcomprises means for holding the torpedo thereto and releasing ittherefrom, comprises two side plates Isl, IOI joined by a tubular crossmember I02 and cross plating I03, I03, all welded together to make asturdy structure. Each side plate, at the bottom, is formed with anarcular flange I04, presenting a surface to receive the torpedo, thissurface being covered by a lining I05, preferably of leather belting.

The upper edges of the side members 55-. 56 of the hanger are notched,as indicated at 56a (see also Figure 4), for the reception of the crossmember I02, and they are also provided with openings 56b, 56b, for thereception of large insertable and removable toggle pins I04, I04. Thecradle rather embraces the forward portion of the hanger, the sidemembers of the former lying outside the side members of the latter;inthis connection, it will be noted that the vertical member of thecross-plating I03 stops short of the side plates to accommodate theforward ends of the side plates of the hanger. The cross member -I02 ofthe cradle rests in the notches 56a, 56a of the side members of thehanger, and the toggle pins I04, I04 pass through openings I05, I05 inthe side plates of the cradle, which openings register with the openings56b, 56b, in the hanger side plates, already referred to.

I It will thus be seen that the cradle may be hung upon the hanger bymeans of these three supporting cross elements, and, so assembled, thecradle becomes, in effect, a rigid part of the hanger. The purpose, aswill be seen, is to permit the cradle, as an independent unit, to beapplied to and to carry the torpedo from the loading dock, by means ofan ordinary derrick, to the hanger, the cradle then becoming in efiectapart of the hanger.

I shall now describe the means whereby the torpedo is carried by thecradle. V

Journaled in bearings I08, I08 on the side plates IOI, IN, is a shaftI09, having welded thereto, near each end, just inside the bearing, ahook IIO cooperating with a hook housing III extending inwardlyfrom eachside plate, 'as particularly shown in Figures 11 and 13. This hookhou'si'ng'l I'I, as'will be there seen, is open at top and bottom'and'is slotted at the reaiflas indicated at -I I2, for reception of thecorresponding hook. I I0. The normal position for these hooks is' withinthe housings, as shown in Figures 11 and 13. v

The torpedo is held to the cradle by means of two slings suspended byway of clevises I I1, I" and pins II 6, H6, fromthe respective sideplates IOI, I0I. The clevises are connected'with cable sockets H8, H8,through turnbuckles I2I, I2I, and'one end of a wire cable I22 is firmlyanchored in each socket H8. The cables I22, I22 are adapted to passaround the torpedo, as shown in Figures 3, 5 and14, and their free endsare looped, as indicated at I23, I23, for reception of thehobks II 0, "II0, inside the hook housing -II I, II! The cables are madeof'proper'leng'th, and the turnbuckles are provided for adjustment, tothe end that, whenthe looped ends ofthe cables are engaged'by the 'hOOksin the hook-housings,

th'etwo slings will hold the torpedo firmly to the ,arcular bottomsurfaces of the cradle.

their looped ends inserted into the'hook housings, and the hooks movedinwardly into the loop ends, thus firmly holding the torpedo to thecradl'e, and this sub-assembl then transported by derrick tothe gear onthe boat at the dock,'as illustratedin Figure 14. The mainverticalmembe'rxI03 of the cross bracing of the cradle is provided withopenings I25, I25 to'perm'it the hoist hooks'to engage the tubular"cross member I02, which is so located, relative to the center ofgravity of the sub-assembly, that the cradle will occupy an adaptableposition for fitting t'o'and embracing the hanger,'as heretoforedescribed.

:Welded to and extendingupwardly from the shaft I09, at about the centerthereof, there is an arm Izfi ywhich forms a knock-out lever. Extendingrearwardly from the upper end of the lever I26. pivoted thereto bymeansof pin I 21, is a link I23 comprising two spaced members, pivoted bmeans of pin I30, near the rear end thereof. to a forked idling link I29which, in turn,

is pivoted by means of pin I32 to extension plate 'may swing forward andback. operating the knock-out lever accordingly (Figure 11), and meansis provided whereby this swinging arrangement may be locked in positionwith the hooks H0, H0 within the hook housings III, III, With the partsso positioned, an opening in plate I3I and openings in the link I29 arein register, and a toggle pin I33, chained to a nearby stud I34, may beinserted therein (see Figure 11). In this wise, when the cradle isapplied to the torpedo on the dock, and the hooks H0, H0 hold the endsof the slings in the housings III, I I I, the safe mounting ofthetorpedo in the cradle is assured, and, as will appear, this safetyprovision continues after the cradle has been mounted on the hanger anduntil the gear is made ready for a launching operation.

I shall now describe the mechanism whereby the torpedo is released fromthe cradle. 7

At the middle of the back of the crescent frame 5| there is provided anupward extension I35, to which a link I36 is connected by way of a pivotpin I31 and lost motion slot I38, and the free end of that is is;adapted to: be pivotally connected with the free end or the link. 1128*by means of the toggle pin I33 when ithas been removedfrom theplate- 13!and link 12!! to-(put the arrangementain operative condition (see Figure3). As will appear-presently, when the'parallelogram is moved to outwardcondition, the pin l 31 moves in the slot I38, reaches the end thereof,and; then urges. the linkalflupwardly and-the link 1'28 forwardly. tothe'end of swing- :ing thexknock-out. lever and moving the hooks 1.4a,rte-out. of'their housings: m, m. This action is indicated indottedlines in Figured.

It will be noted that on the back. of each side im'em'ber ofithecrescent: frame'there isbolted a :padx'lfl of'rubber or similarmaterial, and these padsiengage the tubular cross member 66 of the'hanger when the parts are in this outward conditionas indicated inFigure -5, thus limiting the outward movement. but absorbing the shockupon-impact. I

"flhetme'chanismwhich constitutes the means whole-flinthe rack 33', andthe safety toggle pins 13, 81 and" 33 are in their safety-positions.

In approaching thearea 'of operation, -the bolt 48 :is raised, the:ratchet wrench is applied to the shaft-39 and the pinion, is rotated tomove the carriage-to the-outboard position, indicated in full lines inFigure 5, whereupon the bolt 40 is 'moveddown'intotheoutboard hole" inthe rackand the :safety pin "is reinserted to lock the earriagedn thatposition. -1Preparatoryto'launching, the pin I33is removedfromthe plate,l3! and link'129 and inserted to connect link I28 and link 136, thus torender the knock-out lever I26 capable of operation; and the safety pin'81 is removed to render the shaft 1'8 capable of rotation.

The boat is then maneuvered to aim the torpedo to its target inanticipation of the moment of *release; and the gunner is ready, eitherwith his hand on the valve, controlling fiuidpressure to thetube 9|andcylinder 90, or on the deck with his foot applied-at the lever 8|ready to moverit,v in-the' direction indicated by the arrow "with theytorpedo assembled thereto, isoutboard.

oivertica-l gravity thus exerting its pull .in the direction ofmovingittoits outward condition, resulting in upward pull of thepins-l2, 12 against the upper lip of the hooks 13,13. The axis of thepins 12,12, in normal position, is to the right (Figure 8).,ofthe axisof the shafts 51, 51, and

the tendency oi the upward pull of the pins 12, 12'

vis to rotate the retention hooks l3, l3 counterclockwise .(Figure 3) topermit the pins 12, 12

to-relezwe themselves.

Release of the catch hooks l9,- Entrees thezentire swingingstructurewith the torpedo to swing that slot, the linkage begins to move. theknockout lever, in a. clockwise direction. (Figure 5); and

continued movementpof the swinging structure results in the movement ofthat lever to thepcint where the hooks H0; H8 are entirely withdrawnfrom the end loops of the sling cables 22,3 i221, and that-is the momentcfrelease of the, torpedo.

Figure 19 illustrates movement of the carriage from inboard (transport)position tooutboard (operating) position. Figure 20' illustrates. thefirst portion of the outward movement of; the swinging structure, i. e.that part of, the "move-- ment before the pin [31 :reachesthe end of thelost motion slot I38; that point isthe'begi-nning of motion of theknock-out lever 26; and- Figure 21 illustrates the remaining movementofythe swinging structure and the movement of the knock-out leversufliciently to release the sling cables and to deliver the'torpedoOVGISidB, This instant is justbeforeth-e swinging structure-Eliasreached: the limit of its motion, as indicated in Figure 5, when thepads I42, I42 encounter-the cross tube 66 of the hanger, as hasbeendescribed.

The action of the parallelogram does notimpart rolling motion to thetorpedq; incl-rotation on its own axis, and the movement-of; the tar--pedo, upon release from the cradle is downwardly from itv so that norolling motion is imparted to the torpedo by that action; "Themovemenhdoes however impart an outward thrust to the torpedo, so that itis literally thrown outwardly overside, clear of the boat, at the sametime retaining its axis parallel to what it was at the timeitwas aimed.The path of the axis of the torpedxn in pedo being such that when it isin normal position it is slightly inboard of vertical. I r

In bringing the swinging structure back tonermal position, the pins 12,12 reengagewith the retention hooks l3, l3. Thesprings 74,- "hold thehooks 13, 13 in open position, i. e. to theleft (Figure 8) so that theyare in position to receive the pins l2, 12; when. the pins 12, "strikethe flats 73b, 13b of the retention hooks, their continued movement,back toward normal position, swings the hooks clockwise (Figure 8-) tobring the tails thereof into latching engagement with the. catch hooksi9, 19 which are urged to the left, as already described, by thespring,82 and which are chamfered as shown to permit such action. When thetails 13a, l3ware caught under the hooks l9, '59, the parallelogram-hasbeen restored to its-normal position; thereupon the safety pin 87is'reinserted in its openings to lock the structure against-anyepossibleaccidental movement, the bolt 40 may againbe raised and the pinion 38manipulated to move the carriage back to itsoriginal inboard position,where'itmay again be looked as already described, and the pin I32 may beremoved from the links I28 and I36 and restored to the link I29 and I3I,to render the cradle ready for a newloading.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate, in full lines, a torpedo of certain sizecarried in the launching gear of my invention. Also illustrated, inthese figures, is another size of torpedo, shown in dotand-dash lines.The manner-of accommodating the two different diameters is illustratedin Figures l and 16, the latter showing spacers I55, I50, which areprovided to afford firm seating of the torpedo of smaller diameter.

I shall now describe the means for operating the firing lever of thetorpedo.

On the stern side of the cradle, of the launching gear, as shown inFigures 17 and 18, there is provided a boom I52 which isshown in furtherdetail in Figures 22, 24 and 27. This boom is generally of skeletonI-beam formation, having a transverse end plate I53 which is bolted tobosses on the end plate I OI of the cradle by means of bolts I54, I54.It will be observed that both side plates of the cradle are providedwith such bosses for the reception of such bolts, and that is so inorder that a boom of the same construction may be attached at eitherend, thus permitting a standard construction for use on either side ofthe boat. The bottom member I55 of the boom is provided with a stud I56which takes into a corresponding socket I56a in the torpedo, whereby thetorpedo is definitely located in the cradle.

The top member I51 of theboom is provided with a lengthwise channel I58for a chain I59 which as will appear presently, is used to actuate thefiring lever of the torpedo. At the stern end of the boom, there isprovided a downwardly curved channel I60, supplementing the chan nel I58and extending toward the firing lever 'I-6I of the torpedo (Figure'24).The chain passes through this channel and is provided at its end with aturnbuckle I62 which haspivoted thereto, by means of a pin I63, a leverI64 notched to engage a pivot pin I65 on the torpedo. This lever hasalso a notch I66 operatively to engage the pin I61 on the firing leverI6I. Whenthe parts are in normal position, the torpedo in its cradleready for firing, they are so disposed that they hold the firing leverin safe position.

At the forward end of the channel I58, the curved guide member I68 isprovided and, against this guide, the chain I59 is led to an actuatinmechanism which will now be described. Such a guide member I68 isprovided in both sides so that the same boom construction may beusedwhether on one side or the other of the launch-' ing gear.

As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the side members 21, 21 of the base areprovidedwith pads I10 for the reception of the supporting foot I1I of astanchion I12. Here again, so that the same boom may be used on one sideor the other of the gear, both side members are provided with such pads,as indicated in Figures 2 and 6. On the side where the boom I52 islocated, there the stanchion I12 is thus provided, this stanchion actingas an anchor-for a pull on the chain I59, as will now be set forth.

As shown in Figures 22 and 24, and as best shown in Figures 25 and 26, alink rod I13 is attached to the upper end of the stanchion on the pivotpin I14. The free end of this link rod I13 is yoked as shown at I15 anda toggle pin I16 is there provided, loosely chained to a stud I11 on therod. This pin is adapted to take into alined openings in the yoke endsI15, and, when the link rod I13 is not in use and should be held againstswinging, into an opening-in a bracket I19 on the stanchion. However, aswill be seen, this pin has a more important function.

As best shown in Figures 22 and 27, the boom I52 has a cross web I8I,the upper edges I82 of which form cam surfaces. Here again, thestructure is made symmetrical sothat the same construction may be usedat either end of the launching gear. This web IBI is positioned wherethe chain I59 is turned to the side by the guide I68,

and a twin link I83, pivoted to the web at I84;

has the end of the chain fastened to its upper end by meansof the pinI85.

An L-shaped catch member I36 is secured between the two members of thelink I83, thus in the same vertical plane as the web I8I, the reach armextending more or less parallel to the cam surface I62 and the otherdownward arm I88 actin as the hook thereof. The link rod I13 on thestanchion I12 is of such length that, when the parts are all in normalposition, i. e. with the torpedo in the cradle ready for launching, theopening through which the pin I16 extends is located in immedlateproximity to the catch member and the cam surface I82, with thebifurcated ends of the link rod I13 embracing them. Thus, as illustratedin Figure 27, with the link rod in that position, and the pin I16inserted in its opening, the pin rides on the cam surface I82 and liesbelow the reach arm of the catch member and a short distance from thehook arm I88.

When the parts are in normal position, with the torpedo-ready forlaunching, the chain I59 is taut, and, in the first slight movement ofthe parallelogram the hook arm I88 moves to engagement with the pin I16.From that moment, further outward movement of the parallelogram resultsin the holding back of the hook arm I88 by the pin I16 and the swing ofthe link I83 into the position shown in Figure 28, which means that thechain I59 pulls on the lever I64, swings it about its pivot I65, and, inso doing, actuates the firing lever I6I, placing the gyroscope of thetorpedo in operation. In this action, the lever I64 is entirely freedfrom the torpedo. Further movement of the swinging structure (thestanchion beingstationary) brings the hook I88 beyond the end of the camsurface I82 so thatthe pin I16 may fall out of engagement with both ofthem, thus entirely letting go of the link rod I13 which is attached tothe stanchion.

During the further movement of the swinging structure, before the momentof release, the gyroscope of the torpedo is brought up to speed, sothat, at the moment of release, the gyroscope will be up to speed and inoperation for the aimed direction. The remaining movement, as alreadydescribed, effects the release of thetorpedo from the cradle. In actualtrial of the gear of my in ventiomthe release of a torpedo has beenaccomplished in .1 second from the moment of operation of the shaft 18;there was no action in the first .1 second; at that point the torpedolever was actuated, unlockingthe gyroscope, and .4 second was allocatedto permitting thegyroscope to come up to speed; leaving .2 second forthe actual release of the torpedo;

Many advantages in launching the torpedoes by the gear. and inthe mannerdescribed, over the old method'of launching from tubes, will now beapparent.

, Sheer saving in weight is important, particuany ofiSrnaH boat's; o'rwe a se alr'dir referred to: Tunes for exsusaonsyeapmsve crime asneeessaruy' heavy in and of themselves and eiipulsion b3} 'canoress'a is"a the eases eqiu'binenb foi" fiiiae -isur os'e eaias fifieit easedweight. e museum ii-veapibhis i'elatively 1ig111f', abode-halfFae-vv'eighiof tube moments.

'ReTiabiIi-Ey is another mass With tubes; when fining" vvit-h power, itdifiilfi'o; if inifios 'fsi lirieytokeen the charged x y on one deck ofa 'oo'aii of marine f'ifeifed-to; vi rm awees sisn ebihpees ee mserena-yinvolves the wen spews vmhei-amrmessf any compressed 'aii' sis teen-Servicing torpedoes when m toses fia i't i'c'fi-iarly suh smanjboasgis'ime BotH-frdzri the sfiandooim' of avaiTalole pies and avaii'able deek'sfia'e, Iijhcisglfy to wicaaraw masedae's 1. in t' l paseiaane ifiggana sasa a naeger man oes-Gimme ba eiaiia names a m'mwreiameans(speratmgbytiieftnmweff aiohanger-for iiiovin'g sa ah'dokstarelease s mine 13.311155; toi'fiedo iiaunchingeeai' apnea-hanger msutsueasaa bass an "having throvfr'ia iii/e fiijrto, a 'c adie adapte-iadepenoenuy n be, ddled on a torpedo, slings? suspended mm S i r fi ner dffi gn Sj fie 9 pea hooks on s defame for; en aging the free iid gorsaid slings, mean ng Said offadle to said hanger pojbe*siippor ted wereby v a wew n ihbbks and poi'ting-a torpedo --from'sa sesame we'fiian's? to? supssrting' a torpedo f-r'om said meager. 7

5'; In a tblbeiid launching gear, a platform on the deckof a vessei apair of; guidesseem-(ed 1-10 Said bl a'fifoimg a base filmed in Saidguides to he" moves enema,- a rack on said platform; a pin id'l'rofisaid basei-fidmeshing with Said rack, whereby said iS rotated said baseis moved said guides, a-nan ger mou n-ted on said ease and having athiow relative thereto, and releasable means for supporting a; torpedofrom said hai'igei.

6. In a. torpedo gear, a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of avessel: a h'a n-ger mounted on said base and having athrow abeamrelative thereto, and releasable means for supporting a tqrsedo fromsaid hanger, the center of gravity of the assembled moving structure-b'edutbd'aid' of Vrliial, means for nonmaliy te fiifning said a sembledmoving Structure a'gali-n'st outward movement, and means for actuatingsaid retaining means torelease said assembled moviri saracmreto moveoutwardly by gravity.

7. In atorpedo iaunokfing-gear, a base adapted to Be mdurftdon thefle'okof a; vessel, a hanger motmted onsaid base-and having a throw abea'mrelative thereto, and releasable means for supporting a torpedo fromsaid hanger, the center of gravity of the assembled moving structurebeing outboard of veft ical, means for norm'aiiy retaining saidassembled mo'ving sip' 'uoture against outward movement, andhydraulicaliy operaiiling means for actuating said retaining "means tore-'- lease said assembled moving structu e to 'move numerals; Bygravity.

3 Eli-1 "a torpedo launching geana' base adapted to -be inoun'tedofit'he deck of a "vessei, a hanger mdiinseden Said "base and having athi'ow abeam relative she'reto, and releasable means for sunpo'itingaftorp'e'do 'fr'o'm said han'ge'r, the center of gravity of theassembled m'o'v'ing structure being outboard 0f vem al, means for'normal'ly' retainingsaid assembled moving spructureagamss outvvaidmovem nt, and a foot actuated lever for actuating said ietaining meansto release said assembled movingstrueture'to-move outwardlyby 'ifaviby.H

I 9. Ina'ioipeiioiaunhifig gear/a base ada ted to be mountedoii-t-hedeckof a Vessel, aha'nger mounted on said base and having-ainrowabeam relative thereto, and releasable meanS' for Sup- 'o'r'ung a m-beaufromsaiohanger, fihe center of giavity of {the assembled movingStructure 'bein'g oubea dorveiudaimeans for normaiiy retaininseamassmpled moving sruciiure agair'ist'oiitwardinoveinentjafid'ijydraulically' operating and root operated "means foractuating said retaining means to release said assembled.-Inoving "strucure n; move outwardly by gravity.

-1Q."a-fiiii13edo launohiiig'gear, a four-fink parallelogram stru etuie, one link "of 'whioh is a bas rrgounted bfvbhedekof avessi'and sheepj'osite -'1i Iik of" wi'fii' is a hanger, *vvheiby said hanger is: arahie of saiah's-fission "relative *to said base in'a 'i lane aims-reains s r'ieas'abie iaa'nsorsiippdr'ting'a orpeio from said "hanger, the"efiter of ravity of iihe assembled moving stiuetu're 'bein 'outboateof-ver -icai. v

11. In a torpedo launclfing'igeai', {a ftiili lixik araiieidgramstruture, on'e iinkef -which is a Base and" the-opposite orfwiiieh isahanger, whereoysaid hanger" is eapao s efparan imetion sedative ii aidease, "r'e e'a b 1e "hiegfi for asapi v eh: he eenter of gravity or theassembied inovingscruetum b= ing outboard of vertical, means fornormally retaining said assembled moving structure against outwardmovement, and means for actuating said retaining means to release saidassembled moving structure to move outwardly by gravity.

12. In a torpedo launching gear, a four-link parallelogram structure,one link of which is a base and the opposite link of which is a hanger,whereby said hanger is capable of parallel motion relative to said base,releasable means for supporting a torpedo from said hanger, the centerof gravity of the assembled moving structure being outboard of vertical,means for normally retaining said assembled moving structure againstoutward movement, means for actuating said retainin means to releasesaid assembled moving structure to move outwardly by gravity,

and means for releasing said supporting means when said assembled movingstructure moves outwardly.

13. In a torpedo launching gear, a four-link parallelogram structure,one link of which is a base adapted to be mounted on the deck of avessel and the opposite link of which is a hanger, whereby said hangeris capable of parallel motion relative to said base, releasable meansfor supporting a torpedo from said hanger, the center of gravity of theassembled moving structure being outboard of vertical, means fornormally retaining said assembled moving structure against outwardmovement, means to release said assembled moving structure to moveoutwardly by gravity, means for limiting such outward movement of saidparallelogram, and means actuated by such movement for releasing saidsupporting means to release the torpedo before said parallelogramreaches the outward limit of its movement.

14. In a torpedo launching gear, a four-link parallelogram structure,one link of which is a base and the opposite link of which is a hanger,whereby said hanger is capable of parallel motion relative to said base,a cradle adapted independently to be saddled on a torpedo, slingssuspended from a cradle and adapted to pass around said torpedo, hookson said cradle for engaging the free ends of said slings, means forattaching said cradle to said hanger to be supported thereby, linkage onsaid cradle for moving said hooks, and linkage on said parallelogramstructure to be connected with said linkage on said cradle, wherebymovement of said parallelogram operates to move said hooks to disengagesaid slings to release the torpedo.

15. In a torpedo launching gear, a four-link parallelogram structure,one link of which is a base and the opposite link of which is a hanger,whereby said hanger is capable of parallel motion relative to said base,a cradle adapted independently to be saddled on a torpedo, slingssuspended from said cradle and adapted to pass around said torpedo,books on said cradle for engaging the free ends of said slings, saidcradle having a supporting rod adapted to be hung in said hanger, insertable and removable pins for interengaging said cradle and saidhanger, linkage on said cradle for moving said hooks, and linkage onsaid parallelogram structure to be connected with said linkage on saidcradle, whereby movement of said parallelogram operates to move saidhooks to disengage said slings to release the torpedo.

16. In a torpedo launching gear, a fourlink parallelogram structure, onelink of which is a base and the opposite link of which is a hanger,whereby said hanger is capable of parallel motion relative to said base,an oscillating shaft on said base, a retention hook on said shaft, meanon said parallelogram for engagement by said hook, a second oscillatingshaft on said base, a catch hookon said second shaft for engaging saidretention hook to hold it in position to retain said parallelogramagainst operation, and means for moving said last named shaft-todisengage said retainer hook from said catch hook.

17. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a frame of crescent-shapedcross section pivoted thereto at the forward portion thereof, a hanger,means for pivoting said frame to the forward portion of said hanger, tierods pivoted at one end to the rearward portion of said hanger and atthe other end to the rearward portion of said base, and means forsupporting a torpedo from said hanger in the concavity of said frame.

18. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a frame of crescent-shapedcross section pivoted thereto at the forward portion thereof, a hanger,means for pivoting said frame to the forward portion of said hanger, tierods pivoted at one end to the rearward portion of said hanger and atthe other end to the rearward portion of said base, means for supportinga torpedo from said hanger in the concavity of said frame, the center ofgravity of said assembly lying forward of gravity so as to urge saidhanger forwardly, means for holding said hanger against such motion, andmeans for releasing said holding means.

19. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a frame of crescent-shapedcross section pivoted thereto at the forward portion thereof, a hanger,means for pivoting said fram to the forward portion of said hanger, tierods pivoted between the rearward portions of said hanger and said base,and a cradle hungupon said hanger and adapted to carry a torpedo in theconcavity of said frame.

20. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a hanger mounted on said baseand having a throw relative thereto, releasable means for supporting atorpedo from said hanger, and means for connecting the firing lever ofthe torpedo with said base, whereby movement of said hanger relative tosaid base effects actuation of said firing lever.

21. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a hanger mounted on said baseand having a throw relative thereto, releasable means for supporting atorpedo from said hanger, means for connecting the firing lever of thetorpedo with said base, whereby movement of said hanger relative to saidbase effects actuation of said firing lever, and means for automaticallybreaking said connection between said firing lever and said base.

22. In a torpedo launching gear, a base, a hanger mounted on said baseand having a throw relative thereto, releasable means for supporting atorpedo from said hanger, means for connecting the firing lever of thetorpedo with said base, whereby movement of said hanger relative to saidbase effects actuation of said firing lever, said means including achain, a hook, and a lever pivoted to said base and engaging said hook,and means for retaining said lever in engagement with said hook duringpart only of the movement of said hanger.

EDWARD S. DENNISON.

